well written informative engaging - she's the perfect publicist for Iceland ( )

Eliza Reid, who was born in Canada, met an Icelander in the UK; she moved to Iceland with him, got married, and then he became the president. Reid includes the bare bones of their life together as a springboard to talk about gender equality in Iceland through a number of lenses. Although Iceland is the best country in the world in gender equality rankings, it is still not perfect, and Reid praises what they do well without being complacent about the progress still to be made.

Each chapter heading includes an Icelandic idiom, translated and explained in a footnote. Short sections on sprakki (the singular of sprakkar) highlight individual women in Iceland's history, related to the nearby section, whether it's about history, politics, the media, economics, or sports and the arts. Iceland's social policies and financial support (e.g. parental leave and affordable, high-quality childcare and school) make a tremendous difference in both parents (or single parents) being able to maintain their careers and return to the workforce after having children. Reid notes that there is still some ways to go in the financial sector (CEOs, corner offices, investors), and progress is being made in sports, art and literature, and music. The overall tone is proud and hopeful, but never smug.

See also: The Almost Nearly Perfect People

Quotes

...they were all linked by...being women over forty, fully into their golden fuck-it years, in which trying to impress everyone else finally takes a back seat to personal ambition. (63)

...rather than adopt foreign terms for new technologies and concepts, various committees establish new Icelandic words to enter the lexicon:
tölva (computer) = number + prophetess
friopjofur (pager) = thief of peace (70)

The Icelandic word that envelops the LGBTQIA+ community is hinsegin (literally "the other way around"), an inclusive definition that encompasses all who identify as queer. (81)

Equality doesn't happen of its own accord, and while we celebrate all steps forward, we must never forget how easy it is to slip back. (90)

And because it costs us less to speak up, we are all the more morally obliged to do so. (126)

"Calling out online abuse is not the same as committing it." (Sólberg, 128)

Role models are perhaps the single most crucial component of this great recipe for equality - or at least the largest. (239)

The 2021 Global Gender Gap Index quantified this in its findings that the [COVID-19] pandemic had increased the time predicted to close the gender gap by an additional generation, or thirty-six years. (footnote, p. 246) ( )

For the past twelve years, the World Economic Forum’s Global Gender Gap Report has ranked Iceland number one on its list of countries closing the gap in equality between men and women. What is it about Iceland that enables its society to make such meaningful progress in this ongoing battle, from electing the world’s first female president to passing legislation specifically designed to help even the playing field at work and at home?

The answer is found in the country’s sprakkar, an ancient Icelandic word meaning extraordinary or outstanding women.

Eliza Reid—Canadian born and raised, and now first lady of Iceland—examines her adopted homeland’s attitude toward women and more by including not only her own voice, but many wonderfully executed interviews that are inspiring and insightful.

Truly eye-opening, Secrets of the Sprakkar is a beautifully written, expertly guided discussion on what it means to be a woman in the world as it is right now. The subject is one that should interest all women and this book is the one to turn to for a stimulating, enchanting journey readers are sure to remember. ( )

A narrative on the advances Icelandic women have gained in the struggle toward gender equality. Reid summarizes multiple areas of personal and political spheres: business, politics, the arts as well as issues of child care, immigrant settlement, LGBTQ acceptance and the like. The book is a lesson on one nation's fight to achieving equality for all its citizens and how the lessons learned can be a blueprint for other nations and other such fights. ( )

nonfiction, cultural-assimilation, cultural-exploration, cultural-heritage, culture-shock*****

The national population is less than that of Cleveland, Ohio!
Eliza Reid was born in rural Ontario, later moved to the UK, and later joined with the man who would later be elected president of his home country. She has maintained her own career while they raised children because of the attitudes and support given to parents by the government of Iceland. The country does more things right than most in supporting families and is ahead of the curve in terms of women in leadership positions. No place is perfect, but this country has a long and documented history of strong independent women, and they are justifiably proud of it. Many examples of women and their particular contributions are generously given. Looking forward to getting a more permanent copy for my very own!
I requested and received a free ebook copy from Sourcebooks via NetGalley. Thank you! ( )